Some days my written words come easily. Other days I need to show and tell you what’s on my heart. Today is one of those days.
Please {like pretty please even if you don’t normally watch video posts} click the arrow below to “hear” today’s message from my heart to yours. I don’t want another day to go by without you knowing this…
{Are you a note-taker? If so, I created “Video Message Notes” in a PDF and in MSWord just for you. Even included blanks to fill in. 🙂
Today’s Giveaway:
Two friends of mine who serve behind the scenes and are part of our online study, [thank you Donna & Veronica] have donated copies of my book to giveaway today. Together we created 5 gift packs for 5 of you. Each one includes a copy of my book, A Confident Heart {for you or a friend?} and my testimony/teaching message on CD, Letting God Fill My Empty Places.
Let’s Connect {and how to enter today’s drawing}:
I’d love to hear your thoughts about today’s message… and this is an easy way to enter today’s giveaway too. Just click “share your thoughts” right below this post and do just that – share your thoughts. {I love to read them! And pray over you when I do.} I’ll be there reading and sharing my heart with you too.
For More Daily Encouragement join my Confident Heart Facebook page.
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Renee.
Your post made me cry. Two weeks ago, I knew Jesus asked me to give up an exercise class I love. I did (because I want to obey Him and because I know whenever I have obeyed Him in the past it’s been right) but I didn’t understand why he wanted me to stop this, when it was doing me lots of good.
Since then, I’ve had a lot of heartache. A friend who I thought was a Christian (I don’t have many Christian friends) told me she doesn’t believe Jesus died for our sins. This made me so sad, not least for her but also as I thought we were close in our beliefs.
Then at work, a client died and currently I am unsure if I did everything I should have in the right way and am currently full of anxiety about what’s going to happen about it. I am feeling low and devastated, yet I feel supported and in God’s hands. Even so, it is difficult for me to fully let go and trust Him.
Then here is your post. I realise I have not yet given myself fully to God. I have always looked to other people for approval and acceptance – colleagues, friends, acquaintances, family, pastor and church goers. Right now I feel I am about to lose the acceptance of my colleagues and it feels scary. Yet I am now ready to ask Jesus to examine my life and help me see which voids here I am trying to fill with acceptance and approval from others, or exercise classes! I am ready to ask Him to help me let Him fill the voids. I am frightened but reading your post has encouraged me. It is an answer to my prayer.
Thank you so much.
Alison
God answers prayer, Allison. So thrilling to see you recognize this!!
Thanks, Renee – So so true. I know this in my head. I’m working on getting it to my heart and then lived out practically on a daily basis.
I have been needing to hear this message!! I am exactly like that…. walking around looking for ways to fill my heart… calling friends, throwing myself into my family and hoping they will acknowlege me and my hard work and then maybe I will feel filled and content. I just told a good friend today that no matter how great the past couple days have gone, I still feel down. I can see God working in my life and taking care of me, and I just can’t feel joyful. I really would love to start reading this book and learn a life long habit of letting God fill those empty places that only He can fill! Thanks for this 🙂
Amen, we aren’t where we want to be but praise GOD we’re not where we used to be – and each day as we allow Jesus to fill us and fulfill us He transforms us into who HE created us to be!
I can so relate to your video today. There was a time in my life I tried to fill my empty places with some of the same things you are talking about. Having 4 grown children ,I remember specifically as my children grew and my nest emptied I started to fill my empty places with things like alcohol and partying , to the extent that I was losing myself, while trying to seek fullfillment. But God… Through the feverent prayers of my youngest daughter who asked me to attend Church with her one Easter Sunday in 2009 , there God took all my broken pieces and began to fill me and put me back together again. No I’m not where I should be but praise God, I am not where I used to be. I am so enjoying your study thus far . God bless you Renee!
Just what this “seeking” heart needed to hear at this very moment. Thank you.
:0) SO glad you took time to watch and let Him speak to your heart. I:m so honored to be a vessel in His hands.
Oh how I want to get the clutter out of my heart and let Jesus fill it. Thanks Renee
WOW,I needed to hear this today ….as it seems I have been unhappy because I have been expecting my unbelieving husband to fill what only God can. Thank you..and yes I resisted watching the video and entering because I do not want to admit this. It is hard though remembering the boundries wen yes i want to be able to rely,be close ,depend on my husband but in reality we humans fail and only God can be there all the time in just the way we need Him to be….thanks
Thank you for sharing this message. I have to be honest. I have been feeling so lost for so long. And I still feel lost. And sometimes I feel so alone. I know God is there and I know I need to let Him take over to fill those empty places in my heart. But I am just not sure how. This message came at the perfect time. My boyfriend of two and a half years and I have been fighting the last few days about marriage. He wants to get married eventually but not right now. And I have felt lately like I needed to get married to fulfill something within myself. All of the people I knew from high school have been getting married and having kids and so it has left me feeling like I need to do that to have meaning in my life. So this messgae really hit me. I do not need to be married with children to have meaning in my life. And I need to give it to God and let Him do what is best for me and to help fill those empty places within myself. Thank you so much for sharing! God bless!
Love the thought of looking to the Giver instead of the gifts! I know that God has given me all I have and try to remember to show my gratitude constantly!
Thank you for reminding me about where to get my love & acceptance & forgiveness & value. I needed the reminder today. I have alot of blessing too! I am a pastor’s wife, married to my college sweetheart for 18 years, have 4 awesome children, get to stay at home with my kids, have a nice home & nice friends but I sometimes believe the lie that “if only…then I’d…” I am a visual person, so your demo really made a great visual. I’d love to read your book sometime! It sounds encouraging.
Renee,
I was at the gym this morning reading your book on the treadmill. I felt like a dam had broken inside me. I know Sam personally. I left the gym and cried out to God all the way home. I just watched your message and cried some more. My heart has been broken for sometime. I needed to hear your message today. I still struggle with where my value comes from and I question why God allowed so much pain in my life. I realize I have not been able to totally trust God because of pain and rejection I have experienced. I used men, friends, and chocolate to feel those lonely places. I struggle with believing God loves me. Thank you for being transparent. I am so glad God led me to your book. I was led to start your online study the last session but I was to afraid. This time the pain was so great I had to start. God is speaking to me thru you..
I just want to give you a great big ole hug August Rose {and what a beautiful name!} I”m so glad you are here. You are very brave and i’m proud of you for sharing your heart. I’m praying for you right now.
The message would have never resonated so deeply as it has today. No just left a job interview that went well but I was concerned…this is a higher commitment level than my current job but much more money. My family is my number one priority and I hate more time away. But god calls even mom to commit to their families financially. I needed to hear hat from him today. This allowed me to do that and not feel at a loss for comfort. He is in control. Always. And in my open spaces…every one.
God has been giving me this same truth from various messages over the past 2-3 days. Just when I think I am following Jesus, I find myself reverting back to looking for people or things to meet my needs, to fill my longings. Of course, I end up feeling empty. But God is patient with me and I am so thankful He still pursues me with truth and doesn’t give up on me. Thank you for being one of His messengers. Usually when I find that I am looking for love in all the wrong places, I have not been “into His Word” and in prayer as much. It is so easy to forget whose I am, if I don’t keep connected by feeding myself regularly with His Word and in prayer listening to His Spirit.
I am sorry but I do not watch video messages. They eat up my data and I live in a very rural area. I have to watch that I do not watch a lot of videos. But I need God right now to fill a lot of my empty places. Both my girls are gone and now I am struggling with medical problems with my husband. I have medical problems of my own. God Bless. Please enter me in giveaway.
Thank you! I know God has used your message to speak to me about my empty places. People and things, social networks, etc., have been doing a miserable job at filling me up. Thank you for reminding me only Jesus can fill every part of my need.
Oh Man, has this ever hit home. I always struggle with this feeling full on God’s love. I always had a hard time with being a stay @ home mom, ALWAYS looking for approval from my husband, just wanting him to say great supper, or the house looks great, or you do such an amazing job with the kids. We would fight a lot about this. When watching this, God spoke to me and said, Hollie it’s doesn’t matter. I love you and I think you do great. When you feel that way come to me, sit in my presence and I will give you all the love and approval you need. Thanks for the great mssg and reminder that I NEED to keep coming back to him when I am NOT feeling full.
I agree completely. God longs for us to sit in His presence. We just need to cooperate with Him and do so.
How great a loving God we have.
Yes! As I read through all of these comments, I am seeing this common theme from many stay at home moms- our looking to our husbands to affirm what we do, to give us worth. I must say, although I am sorry that you all struggle with it as well, it gives me a little peace to know that I’m not the only one! I too waste afternoon nap times… and need to use it to refuel for the last stretch of the day! Thanks for the inspiration to do so!
Thank you so much for the illustration. I needed that this morning. with a toddler and two ten months old I sometimes get caught up in the me me me. I’ve changed x number of diapers. I’ve done this, that. What have you done today? It’s horrible. I’ve made my quiet time in the morning a priority but have been finding in the afternoon that I put the girls down for nap and waste time. If I’d just reconnect with God again, if I haven’t had a harried day and have been praying to him all day, then the rest of my day goes so much better. I’m not looking at my husband for a pat on the back when he gets home. Thanks again for the message and the reminder!
I’m in new Zealand and have just woken this morning to get ready for another day as a mum of three and a loving husband. God certainly lead me to your daily devotional this morning as I have never visited before. What a simple but powerful illustration of what I do every day. How unfair have I been to lean so heavy on my husband and children to provide me the love I desire. What a set up for failure. I love god but I am not always giving him the opportunity to fill my empty spaces. Thank you for your open heart and ministry to allow god to speak to others including me, through your words.
Hi,
This is study is right where I am! It is surely God helping me through some rough spots. Thank you so much!!!